NR 661 Reflection on the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) History and Purpose of DNP: Chamberlain College Of Nursing

History and Purpose of DNP Dr. Williams developed the College’s Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in 2001 during this time the terminal degree for advanced practice nurse was the Masters of Nursing (MSN) degree. The DNP program was launched in response to a call for new knowledge in the face of a rapidly changing health care environment. The DNP curricula purpose is to build on traditional master's programs by providing education in evidence-based practice, system leadership, and quality improvement, among other critical areas (Auerbach et al., 2015). Academic nursing leaders in 2004 supported Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) preparation movement to DNP by 2015 (Auerbach et al., 2015). The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has supported the DNP positions. The position was attained after the assessment of current and anticipated health needs based on the current value-based environment. The DNP is designed for nurses seeking a terminal degree in nursing practice and provides an alternative to research-focused doctoral programs.